rjs
Level 15
Level 15

Get your taxes done using TurboTax

You do not meet the requirements to claim exemption from withholding. In order to claim Exempt in 2020 you must have "had no federal income tax liability in 2019 and you expect to have no federal income tax liability in 2020." But you were working in 2019, so you had tax liability, and you will have taxable income in 2020. So you cannot legally claim Exempt on your W-4.


"Tax liability" means the total tax for the year on your tax return. It does not mean an amount due that you have to pay when you file your tax return.